book
'Wata no Kokusei' Volumes 1-4 by Yumiko Oshima（Published by Hakusensha Bunko） 620 yen per volume amazon.co.jp
Yumiko Oshima's manga titled 'Wata no Kokusei' was published semi-regularly in 'LaLa' between 1978 and 1987. Moreover, the series was eventually animated in 1984. The main character is a cat named Chibi, who is cared for by a boy named Tokio and his kindly family, the Suwanos. Chibi says, "Because I think that I'm human, I appear in this human form." In fact, all of the other cats in the manga also appear as humans. Though they can understand human language, they can only reply by meowing. Moreover, though Chibi undoubtably believes that he will "one day become a human," he occasionally sees the illusion of a silver cat named Raphael, who tells the story of 'Wata no Kuni' ('The Land of Cotton'), "a place that cats visit as cats." The manga involves many other plot lines. These include Tokio's mother's struggles with cat allergies, a snobby Siamese cat that lives with a wealthy family, a group of stray cats that always sticks together, and of course, Chibi's perspectives on the human world. Anyone who has ever owned a cat will be able to identify with the stories. Bouncing between cat-consciousness and human society, you'll be drawn into Yumiko Oshima's fantastic world.
'Neko no Aisatsu' (The Cat's Greeting) by Harumin Asao（Seigensha) 1,050 yenamazon.co.jp
This new flipbook is the work of illustrator Harumin Asao, who is known for the film based on her book 'Watashi wa Neko Sutoka' (I'm a Cat Stalker). As you flip through the pages, a black cat with eyebrows comes up and gives you a big and very special feline greeting. This book can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
Author: Harumin Asao, Animation: Kei Oyama, Printed by cochae
View the video here.
http://youtu.be/nkeFnsj4V1I
Ito Junji's Cat Diary - Yon & Mu' (Kodansha Press) 680 yen amazon.co.jp
If you ask him whether he prefers cats or dogs, he'll tell you that he's a dog person. Down deep, the author, a writer of horror manga, thinks that he likes dogs because they are so loyal to their masters. However, his cat-loving partner, Ms. A, insists on bringing two cats into his home. The arrival of kittens - the funny-faced 'Yon' and the affectionate 'Mu', bring with them a string of agonizing days. He becomes envious when the cats choose Ms. A's bed over his. So, in the small hours of the morning, he spreads cat food on his bed (after the cats eat it, they promptly return to A-san). He then tries out a cat-teasing toy for the first time (the cats completely ignore him as he dances around like a fool). Readers will laugh out loud at the foolish ways the author tries to connect with cats, who have their own pace. Unlike other cat manga that features roughly drawn images, Ito's illustrations have an extremely detailed and dramatic touch that well-suits the funny story lines. No matter how many times I read this cat-themed manga, I find myself laughing.
P.S. Whatever you do, don't try reading this book on a train. Because you won't be able to stop yourself from laughing, people will think there is something wrong with you.
'Noroneko Ken-san' (Ken the Stray Cat) by Tomomi Muramatsu [Kawade Shobo Shinsha Press] 1,470 yen amazon.co.jp
The cat that comes and goes in your garden... the cat that you always meet by chance in the neighborhood... If you like cats, you know the kind of stray cat we are talking about. Even famous writers have this feeling, such as Tomomi Muramatsu, the writer of 'Abusan Monogatari', the Naoki Prize winning book about 21 years spent together with a cat.
While feeding the stray cats that enter his garden, he spontaneously give them names. Eventually, one of the cats becomes irreplaceable. Beginning with Ken, a quiet yet rowdy stray, this attractive volume is full of rugged cats.
'Artists' Cats 2' by Saburo Kawamoto, Tomoko Kuze and Sakumi Hagiwara (Corona Books) 1,680 yen amazon.co.jp
'Artists' Cats' by Tama Aoki, Shinpei Tokiwa and Fusanosuke Natsume (Corona Books) 1,680 yen amazon.co.jp
The second book of the 'Artists' Cats' series is now on sale. It contains the stories of cat-loving artists as well as the cats who received their love. The stories feature the likes of Fujio Akatsuka, Yoko Kamoi, Teruhiko Kuze, Komimasa Tanaka, Yoko Hagiwara - and of course a lot of cats! The first volume included cat lovers such as Soseki Natsume, Junichiro Tanizaki, Leonard Foujita, Aya Koda, Shotaro Ikenami, Yukio Mishima and Ramo Nakajima. Together, the two books in this series form an eternal record of people's love for cats.
Casa BRUTUS issue no. 137
'Indeed, I want to live with pets!' on sale July 8, 2011 880 yen amazon.co.jp
ilove.cat has collaborated with Casa BRUTUS magazine on an article titled 'Indeed, I want to live with pets!' The special feature contains past interviews from the website, including the recent article on chef Tomo Kurihara and her cat named Dump. The issue is great for more than just cat lovers, as dogs, birds and a number of other animals are featured. Please check it out at your local bookstore!
